Non-Physical Violence, Part 2

Non-Physical Violence, Part 2 The opposite of love is not hate, itโ€™s indifference.ย  Elie Wiesel[1] In last weekโ€™s reflection on non-physical violence I focused on verbal aggression and how the words we say, write, and even think can wound in ways as bad or worse than physical acts of violence. Verbal aggression, like its physical … Continue reading Non-Physical Violence, Part 2

Guns and Immaturity, Part 4

Guns and Immaturity, Part 4 Love God. Love neighbor. Love self. Love period.  Rev. Jacqui Lewis[1] Because we are inseparably interconnected with all beings, we cannot mature into our truest nature without first accepting others as possessing equal value and equally deserving of the respect we desire for ourselves. When Jesus told us to love … Continue reading Guns and Immaturity, Part 4

Guns and Immaturity, Part 3

Guns and Immaturity, Part 3 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother โ€ฆ and oneโ€™s foes will be members of oneโ€™s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of meโ€ฆ  Matthew 10:35-37 We know that social media sites use … Continue reading Guns and Immaturity, Part 3

Guns and Immaturity, Part 2

Guns and Immaturity, Part 2 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother โ€ฆ and oneโ€™s foes will be members of oneโ€™s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of meโ€ฆ  Matthew 10:35-37 Immaturity expresses in countless ways when it … Continue reading Guns and Immaturity, Part 2

Guns and Immaturity

Guns and Immaturity But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.ย  Matthew 5:39 Up to now in this series I have primarily focused on our desire to arm ourselves for purposes of self-defense โ€“ in order to incapacitate or kill … Continue reading Guns and Immaturity

Guns and Fear, Part 3

Guns and Fear, Part 3 No one has greater love than this, to lay down oneโ€™s life for oneโ€™s friends. John 15:13 When I turned 18 I was required to register for the military draft โ€“ which forced young men into military service based on a randomized list of birthdates. The year I might have … Continue reading Guns and Fear, Part 3

Guns and Fear, Part 2

Guns and Fear, Part 2 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soulโ€ฆ Matthew 10:28a I ended last weekโ€™s Life Note by saying there is a reason Jesus taught that we should be willing to give up our lives instead of committing violence against another. It is the same reason … Continue reading Guns and Fear, Part 2